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THE TOXIC ACTION OF TRACES OF COAL GAS UPON PLANTS
Author(s) -
PRIESTLEY J. H.
Publication year - 1922
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1922.tb05945.x
Subject(s) - endodermis , epicotyl , etiolation , biology , botany , ethylene , biochemistry , seedling , catalysis , enzyme
Summary.1 1. There is clear evidence in the literature that the toxic action of traces of illuminating gas upon plants may be traced to the presence of gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbons. A concentration of one part of ethylene in ten million of air is toxic to the etiolated epicotyl of a pea. 2 The effect of these unsaturated hydrocarbons can be traced in the case of root or etiolated stem to their inhibition of the formation of a functional primary endodermis, which is usually present in these plant structures. 3 The unsaturated hydrocarbons prevent the formation of a functional endodermis, by preventing the normal accumulations of unsaturated acids in the region of the future Casparian strip. 4 It is suggested that the effect of traces of these gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbons upon cork formation may be due to the arrest of the normal deposit of fatty acids in the membranes of the cork cells. 5 The practical significance of this work lies in the fact that definite diagnostic features may now be sought for when injuries to plants are suspected to be due to gas poisoning.